Apparatus and method of releasing a point-to-multipoint radio bearer

Abstract

A mobile terminal can release a point-to-multipoint radio bearer (RB) in an explicit manner or an implicit manner, whereby an explicit RB release mechanism allows the network to explicitly instruct the mobile terminal to release the RB, while an implicit RB release mechanism allows the mobile terminal itself to release the RB without receiving any explicit instructions from the network.

1. A method of releasing a point-to-multipoint radio bearer (RB) used for a point-to-multipoint service, the method comprising:
 establishing the point-to-multipoint RB for receiving data packets of the point-to-multipoint service at a user equipment (UE); 
 receiving, at the UE, a point-to-multipoint service information message comprising a point-to-multipoint RB release cause, wherein the point-to-multipoint service information message is received through a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) control channel (MCCH), and wherein the point-to-multipoint service information message is used to inform the UE about a change applicable to one or more point-to-multipoint services available in a current cell; and 
 releasing, by the UE, the point-to-multipoint RB when the received point-to-multipoint service information message indicates a release of the point-to-multipoint RB, 
 wherein the point-to-multipoint service information message is periodically transmitted by a network, and 
 wherein the point-to-multipoint service information further comprises a point-to-multipoint service ID. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the point-to-multipoint service information message further comprises a point-to-multipoint radio bearer release message. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the point-to-multipoint RB release cause comprises a session stop. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the point-to-multipoint RB release cause comprises at least a normal release, an out of point-to-multipoint service coverage, or a network abnormal release. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the point-to-multipoint service comprises a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) service. 
     
     
       6. A user equipment (UE) for receiving a point-to-multipoint service, the UE comprising:
 a memory; 
 a transceiver configured to receive a point-to-multipoint service information message comprising a point-to-multipoint RB release cause; and 
 a processor configured to:
 establish a point-to-multipoint radio bearer (RB) for receiving data packets of the point-to-multipoint service, and 
 release the point-to-multipoint RB when the received point-to-multipoint service information message indicates a release of the point-to-multipoint RB, 
 wherein the point-to-multipoint service information message is received through a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) control channel (MCCH), 
 wherein the point-to-multipoint service information message is used to inform the UE about a change applicable to one or more point-to-multipoint services available in a current cell, 
 wherein the point-to-multipoint service information message is periodically transmitted by a network, and 
 wherein the point-to-multipoint service information message further comprises a point-to-multipoint service ID. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The UE of  claim 6 , wherein the point-to-multipoint service information message further comprises a point-to-multipoint RB release message. 
     
     
       8. The UE of  claim 6 , wherein the point-to-multipoint RB release cause comprises a session stop. 
     
     
       9. The UE of  claim 6 , wherein the point-to-multipoint RB release cause comprises at least a normal release, an out of point-to-multipoint service coverage, or a network abnormal release. 
     
     
       10. The UE of  claim 6 , wherein the point-to-multipoint service comprises a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) service.